Protests spread amid Afghan fury at Quran burning

Afghan protesters hold rocks during a protest near a U.S. military base in Kabul on Feb. 22, 2012. Hundreds of angry Afghans gathered in a second day of violent clashes after copies of the Quran, Islam's holy book, were burned at NATO's main base in Afghanistan.

Ahmad Masood / Reuters

An Afghan policeman runs away as protesters throw rocks near a U.S. military base in Kabul on Feb. 22, 2012.

Parwiz / Reuters

Smoke billows from a fuel tank supplying NATO troops, after it was set on fire by protesters during a demonstration in Jalalabad province on Feb. 22, 2012.

The shots were fired into demonstrators when they charged at police lines and smashed car windows, witnesses told Reuters. It appeared police had fired the shots but there was no immediate confirmation from Afghan security forces.